Jetstar plans further expansion in Japan

Jetstar has announced (18-Mar-09) its intention to reinstate direct international services between Cairns and western Japan on the Cairns-Osaka route in Dec-09 when it finalises commercial airport arrangements in Japan holiday to enable this new growth in services to occur.
In delivering a major boost for the Far North Queensland tourism industry, Jetstar plans to introduce four times weekly A330 services directly between Cairns-Osaka (Kansai International Airport) to further grow its Queensland to Japan services to 25 weekly return frequencies by the end of 2009.Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan joined the Queensland Premier Hon. Anna Bligh MP and Queensland Airports Limited General Manager Business Marketing & Development Paul Donovan to jointly announce the airline’s latest high level commitment in support of Queensland’s tourism sector.Mr Buchanan said Jetstar welcomed the ongoing partnership with the Queensland Government and Queensland Airports Limited, which underpinned the intended reintroduction of direct air access between Cairns and western Japan.
Mr Buchanan said, “Through Jetstar’s strong partnership with Queensland Airports Limited, where their management now extends to Cairns Airport, we are leveraging increased opportunities to continue to grow international connections for Far North Queensland. These partnerships are allowing Jetstar to deliver more international flights for Cairns.”Mr Buchanan said the future Cairns-Osaka service was dependent upon a satisfactory commercial arrangement being achieved with Kansai International Airport.Mr Buchanan said, “We have a positive relationship with Kansai International Airport, and are continuing our negotiations in relation to this proposed new service. We look forward to concluding this with a positive outcome.”
“However, with our commercial agreement with Queensland Airports Limited, we have alternative international capacity options for Cairns, if we are unable to secure an appropriate arrangement.”
Mr Buchanan said upon the future commencement of sales of its proposed four times weekly Cairns- Osaka service, Jetstar will deliver daily flight access for arriving and departing Japanese visitors from western Japan into Cairns, to better support its existing daily Cairns-Tokyo return service and provide fresh impetus for the region’s tourism industry.
“Our Japan-Australia services are experiencing upwards of one in five first time international travellers and up to 40% of bookings now come direct through our website or telephone bookings to our airline in the Tokyo market.
“Such factors and Jetstar’s marketing investment of up to AUD30 million annually in Japan reflect a heightened ability by us to better convert Japanese consumers and their existing awareness and preference to visit Australia into actual holiday bookings.”